Multiple offers: Any proof?

[Dmoney]

Is there any way to know for a fact that there are multiple offers, or even a competing offer on a house?

Seems like it is very easy for an agent to say there are three other offers just to get an individual to overbid against his/her self.

Any way to get 100% verification that there is indeed a real competitor for the property?

[GreenAvenue]

No. I have been in this situation myself and wondered the same thing. If you have some leverage and can & want to go up with the price I would say do that, but if the agent comes back again and tells you someone outbid you I would say: walk away. This is exactly the reason I hate realtors.

[Dmoney]

I have no problem walking away from 100 houses that I'm not 100% comfortable with. It's very unlikely that I'll go much above listing unless I feel it's extremely undervalued. However, in that case, I wan't to know if there actually are competing offers and not just the agent's fabrications.

[Jungle]

I heard they are making fake offers in some cases bid prices up.

[crazyjackcsa]

Faking a bid on a house? That's gutsy, but I'm sure it happens. Don't go past what you're comfortable with, and don't worry about it.

[Maybe Later]

I think Rob Carrick linked to a blog post suggesting that you could include a clause that your new offer could be retracted if proof of the original competing offers was not provided. Not sure I'd it was CDN or a US site and sure how many RE agents would balk at submitting that.